GARY Rowett praised goalscoring duo Mark Harris and Przemyslaw Placheta after both netted to ensure a winning start for Oxford United’s new head coach.
Harris opened the scoring at home against former side Cardiff City, while Placheta added a stunning third after Ciaron Brown had doubled the lead with a header.
Harris and Placheta have both endured frustrating campaigns for different reasons, but looked rejuvenated against the Bluebirds.
After grabbing four goals in his first four Sky Bet Championship games of the season, Harris then went 17 matches without a goal until yesterday, while injury has hindered the fortunes of summer signing Placheta.
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Rowett said of Harris: “I always say the same to a number nine. Of course a number nine is there to score goals and has to take those chances when they get them.
“That’s the difference between good teams and average teams, but also when you’re a different type of nine, and one that runs to open channels and goes and presses and closes down, I always appreciate that.
“You can never always score goals, it can never always be one person. What you have to do as a team is you have to find a real balance.
“Sometimes a nine can open space for other people to score goals, and I thought what you saw was his tireless work maybe opens those spaces for Shemmy to cut inside and opens those moments to go and get a chance.
“Dane [Scarlett] is a different type of nine, so again it’s just working out which ones are going to be the best on which day. Matt Phillips can of course play up there as well.
“If players give me everything and work hard, I can forgive a lack of something because nobody’s perfect in this division.”
Placheta put the U’s 3-0 up with an incredible strike from 30 yards out, blasting an effort into the top corner.
Rowett said: “It was an incredible strike. When you’re someone that is so quick, it’s hard to be quick, composed and score goals as well.
“This division is full of players who are good at one thing and maybe not another, and you’ve got to find ways of letting them come out of their strengths, and concentrate on what they are good at.
“I thought he stretched the game for us really well in the first half and showed some really good moments.
“There were a couple of times when we broke, but there’s nobody as quick as him, so can we come back out again and just retain possession?
“It was a wonderful strike though and a goal worthy of winning any game.”